Refugee camps: Safe refuge, to a point

A delegation from the European Parliament's Freedom Commission positively assessed the condition of Poland's refugee camps last week, following inspections in Lesznowola and Biała Podlaska. The visit was a part of a tour of restricted access camps for refugees who have applied to EU countries for asylum.

"We are satisfied with what we have seen and heard ... When it comes to the living conditions of the people who stay here, Poland ranks rather well," MEP Wolfgang Kreissl Doerfler from the Party of European Socialists (PES), told the press last week.

The delegation stressed the fact that the Polish authorities had taken a careful and individual approach to its numerous refugees, most of whom claim Chechnyan nationality. The MEPs specifically mentioned the Polish side's will to cooperate. "We were reassured by the Polish authorities' willingness to cooperate and answer all our questions," said the head of the delegation, MEP Patrick Gaubert.

There were still a number of negatives, however. Delegates noted that immigrants have little access to legal assistance and that asylum seekers under the "tolerated stay" program got no financial aid or assistance in integrating.

The delegation also criticised Poland for poor conditions at the Lesznowola camp, but noted the country's efforts to improve the conditions of the refugees by taking them to newer centers.

According to Piotr Stachańczyk from the Ministry of Interior and Administration, there are 250 people in restricted access refugee camps and 5,468 people in the open access refugee houses.